By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi 

Ashish Sood cites textbook prices, tender documents and official letters to counter procurement allegations; promises disclosures on five alleged irregularities from AAP’s tenure

NEW DELHI: Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood on Saturday rejected the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) allegations of irregularities in textbook procurement, presenting books, tender work orders and measuring rulers at a press conference to support the government’s account of the purchases.

Sood accused AAP leaders of making politically motivated allegations and announced plans to bring forward evidence relating to five alleged scandals dating from the party’s tenure in Delhi. The allegations and counterclaims have not been independently established by the material described in the press release.

‘MALHAR’ BOOK PRICE AT ₹28.61, MINISTER SAYS

Addressing the controversy over the Class 8 Hindi textbook Malhar, Sood said the Delhi government had procured the book for ₹28.61 per copy, compared with ₹55 for a textbook of the same size, Griha Vigyan, printed under the previous AAP government in 2022.

He said the tender specifications prescribed dimensions of 17.1 cm by 24.1 cm, consistent with the standard format used in previous years. The minister invited journalists to measure the books themselves, arguing that the allegation of reduced book sizes could be tested against the physical copies and tender documents.

Sood also said the present government had capped the highest textbook price at ₹51, despite inflation over the preceding four years.

According to figures cited by the minister, the highest prices under the previous administration reached ₹110 for Class 8 textbooks, ₹103 for Class 7 and ₹133 for Class 6. Under the current government, he said, the corresponding prices were capped at ₹50.38, ₹75.88 and ₹57.76, respectively.

The minister alleged that AAP leaders had made claims of a 40 per cent commission without adequately checking the procurement rates. He also accused the previous administration of corruption, but the press release did not provide independently verified evidence establishing those allegations.

2023 LETTERS CITED OVER PRINTING QUALITY

To challenge the criticism of textbook procurement, Sood released two letters dated August 17 and September 6, 2023, which he said were written by the then Secretary (Education) during the AAP government’s tenure.

According to the minister, the letters documented concerns about the quality and printing of textbooks supplied under the previous administration. He said the current purchases had undergone laboratory quality tests and were made at lower prices.

Sood maintained that the documents, tender rates and physical books should be examined together to assess the competing claims.

The minister also warned that the government was reviewing the matter and that strict action would follow against those found responsible for deliberately spreading false information or misleading the public.

FIVE ALLEGED SCANDALS ON MINISTER’S RADAR

Moving beyond the textbook dispute, Sood announced that his government would present evidence concerning five alleged irregularities linked to AAP’s period in office:

• ₹5,400 crore classroom project: Alleged irregularities in classroom construction.
• CCTV project worth over ₹500 crore: Alleged financial wrongdoing in the project.
• EWS admissions worth over ₹500 crore: Alleged irregularities involving admissions under the Economically Weaker Sections category.
• ₹1,000 crore COVID-related case: Alleged financial wrongdoing during the pandemic.
• Cash-for-query allegations: Claims that money was taken in exchange for raising specific questions in the Assembly.

These figures and allegations were presented by Sood as issues his government intends to pursue. The press release did not include detailed supporting documentation or findings establishing liability in these cases.

‘BIG CHHOTUS’ VERSUS ‘SMALL CHHOTUS’

In a political attack on AAP’s internal dynamics, Sood claimed that senior party leaders were making allegations to preserve their relevance amid the arrival of newer members.

He described the accusations as “hoot and shoot” politics, alleging that AAP leaders were making claims without sufficient evidence. AAP’s response to the minister’s statements was not included in the press release.

Sood concluded the briefing by playing the Bollywood song Choron Ko Saare Nazar Aate Hain Chor, from the 1971 film Naya Zamana, as a musical response to the allegations.

He urged journalists to examine the textbook dimensions, procurement rates and official correspondence, maintaining that the documents would support the government’s position.

The textbook dispute has thus widened into a broader political confrontation, with the Delhi government promising further disclosures while the competing allegations remain matters for documentary scrutiny and verification.